The Phillies had a 3-1 lead in the 8th inning on Thursday when reliever Pat Neshek needed just five pitches to get the final two outs of the inning. But yet, as the Phillies batted in the bottom of the eighth inning, Luis Garcia was up and warming to pitch the top of the ninth inning to close out the game. Fans wondered, how come Neshek did not stay in and close out the game? Some news on Sunday morning might lend some insight.
Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reports that at least one team has an offer on the table for Neshek:
There are five weeks to go before the non-waiver trade deadline and the Phillies have already received at least one offer for one of their players.
The club has a "standing offer" on the table for veteran reliever Pat Neshek, according to a source.
Could this be affecting how the Phillies are using Neshek?
Even aside from refraining from throwing a second inning on Thursday, the Phillies also have not used Neshek on back-to-back days from the 20th to the 21st. Neshek did, however, pitch on the 22nd and 23rd. Neshek has not pitched more than one inning on any occasion this season other than May 7 against the Washington Nationals when Neshek got four outs.
Speaking of the Nationals, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported over the weekend that the Nationals are a team that has expressed interest in Neshek. The Nationals are the only team to have scored upon Neshek this season. The two runs Neshek allowed all season thus far came on a Michael Taylor home run that barely hit the foul pole for a home run.
Neshek has said in the past that expects to be traded. The Phillies, who might be represented in this season's All-Star Game by Neshek, would be open to trading their veteran players for players to add to their depth of prospects.
